Stance

Stance is a series of nine larger-than-life illustrations of everyday Chinese Canadians, drawn on thin mulberry paper through a process of interviews and current and historical research. A list of one-on-one conversational questions was designed to engage Chinese Canadians from diverse backgrounds and experiences. With their permission and support, their stories became the inspiration for the 90 x 200 cm portraits rendered in stylized likeness.

Drawing on the concept of traditional Chinese embroidery, a visual dictionary of symbols and motifs is used to integrate and illustrate their personal stories of endurance and discrimination. Through the layering of ink, graphite, digital collage, and printmaking techniques, the intricate drawings become both a symbolic surface of systematic patterns and a space for dialogue.

This project was inspired by my yearning to create something big in response to personal experiences of being yelled at, and the broader tension directed at people of Asian appearance at that time. The scale, contrary to my usual practice, brought a sense of healing, voice, and learning through the process of labour. Upon request, a booklet containing all the stories was created and given to each participant.

Project Mentorship: Marlene Yuen
Racism Advisor: Kennes Lin
Printmaking Consultant: Sarah Ellis Clark

This project is support by the Canada Council for the Arts, Research and Creation grant, 2021-2022